Briefcase and method of making same



Jan. 8, 1952 w, K 2,581,763

BRIEFCASE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed March 6, 1947 2 ENE? ("05... 42/5/22 3 E'HQHER Patented Jan. 8, 1952 U BRIEFCASE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Walter R. Hickler, Winthrop, Mass., assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 6, 1947, Serial No. 732,808

3 Claims. (01. 1501.6)

This invention relates to an article of luggage such as a briefcase or the like and a method of making same and is particularly concerned with a briefcase construction having improved wear resistance.

Objects of this invention are to provide an article of pleasing appareance by means of a construction adapted to maintain the initial appearance throughout a long service life; to provide a relatively flexible reinforced article having continuous Waterproof surfaces and completely enclosed'edges; to provide an article in which the edges normally subject to fraying and abrasion present a continuous unbroken surface of uniform resistance; and to provide an article in which the resistant edges are integral with the surface of the body of the article and of substantially the same thickness as the body of the article. Further objects are to provide a briefcase or the like adapted to lie flat when opened and adapted to be readily closed; to provide a briefcase or the like which is flexiblewithout being limp and which is light in weight; and to construct such an article by a method which involves a minimum number of operations which consistently result in a uniform article. Other objects will be apparent from the description which follows.

A briefcase embodying this invention comprises a generally rectangular fabric sheet completely enclosed by a layer of thermoplastic material which extends beyond the periphery of the fabric sheet in an unlaminated margin of substantially the same thickness as the body of the briefcase. The briefcase is provided with closure means which maintain the case as a closed envelope when the case is folded along a median line.

A briefcase embodying this invention is best illustrated in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a partially opened briefcase in which the fabric body is completely enclosed by thermoplastic material;

Fig. 2 is a section on line2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a similar section illustrating an alternative briefcase construction.

A briefcase embodying this invention as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a generally rectangular fabric body portion l completely enclosed by a layer ll of thermoplastic material. The enclosing layer H comprises continuous covering layers l2 and [3 on the opposed surfaces of the body portion in fused together in an integral margin l4 extending beyond the periphery l5 of body pornumber of reasons.

rubber, a rubbery diene copolymer or a similar synthetic rubber; rubber halides, and similar ma-- terials. The thermoplastic composition may contain any of the commonly used reinforcing materials, fillers, color pigments, and softeners in accordance with conventional compounding techniques.

, A closure means l6 which preferably comprises a slide fastener is secured to the outer margin of the article by lines of stitching I1, ll; so that when the body portion is folded, the complementary members of the closure means are broughtinto fastening relation. Otherclosure means may be used instead of the slide fastener,

such as stud and socket fasteners, etc.

The molded margin l4 of thermoplastic material is of substantially the same thickness as the body portion l0 and covering layers l2 and I3. This cross-sectional thickness is desirable for a The margin has sufficient strength so that it stands out from the fabric body portion instead of hanging limply. Thus,

when the briefcase edge strikes an object, the

impact is taken directly on the edge where the thermoplastic layer is thickest rather than at the periphery of the fabric reinforcement where the covering layer is considerably thinnen The outstanding margin further insures abrasion directly on the edge so that the edge must be abraded back through the entire width of the margin before the fabric can fray.

Since the edge is fused or molded in a unitary structure, it exhibits no tendency to laminate. The fabric is sealed within the enclosing layer and no water can penetrate into the fabric to cause deterioration. The margin is integral with the covering layers and presents no point of incipient failure; but instead presents a finished and pleasing appearance in which the construcused.

In addition to abrasion resistance, the edge of a briefcase or similar article must exhibit resistance to fiexure stresses. A Woven material normally has an extended flex life since the Warp and weft threads are free to move relative to borne by the threads without being relieved by relative movement of the threads. The body at the article is thus relatively resistantto flexure in service, whereas the edge is relatively easily bent when it strikes an object. Relatively fiex ible thermoplastic material su'ch asis employed in practicing this invention exhibits excellent resistance to' fiexure stress; and the =outstand-v ing margin is not weakened by repeated flexing In an alternative construction as shown in Fig. 3, the briefcase is prepared as before prior to the molding operation.- At this point, the slide fastener tape is disposed between the overlapping margins of the covering layer in abutting relation to the edge of the fabric sheet l0, and the whole assembly is molded under heat andpressure so as tosecure the slide ifastener within the-margin of the completed article. If desired, the stringer tape may be first butt stitched to the fabric to insure registry of the parts during the molding operation.

The methods detailed heretofore are particularly applicable. in making an improved briefcase,.=but are also applicable for making other articles such as lkeycases, notebook binders, billfolds, suitcases and similar articles which must as the marginal zone of the coated fabricwould be if the outstanding margin were absent.

In constructing a briefcase embodying'this invention. the. preferred method comprises first providing a generally rectangular fabric sheet H! and a pair of. sheets 12' and 430i thermoplastidmaterial of .similar shape but of slightly larger .size than the fabric sheet. The fabric sheet is preferably coated with a suitable cement or latex adhesive and the thermoplastic sheets are superimposed on the opposed surfaces of the fabric sheet with the outer margins of the thermopl'astic sheets extending beyond the periphery of the fabric sheet. These overlapping. margins are then fused together by the application of heat sufficient to soften the margins.

. In the preferred method, this step is carried out by placing the fabric sheet-andssuperimposed covering layers in a- :heatedmold wherein the thermoplastic material is subjected to heat and pressure suflicient to cause the material tofiow:

in a confined space. The margin thus formed is of substantially the same thickness as the body portion including the covering layers is integral with the covering layers, and completely encloses the fabric within an unlaminated envelope. The heat and pressure furtherserve to securely bond the covering layers :to the fabric sheet. 7 7

Alternatively, an excess of the thermoplastic material may be disposed around the periphery 'of the fabric in the mold which material caused to fuse with the covering layers. Further, the entire covering layer and. margin may be formedin the mold by placing asuitable quantity of the thermoplastic material on each :side of the fabric and fusing saidmaterial to iform a covering sheet but it -isdifiicult to obtain a If desired, a design or grain. maylbemoldedon the surface of the thermoplastic at the same time the margin isformed. It vis also preferable to' form a rounded edge .on the 'margi-nv to .present a finished appearance as shown in the drawing.

Subsequently, pockets, etc., may be stitched or V cemented inside-thebriefcase-in the. usual manner if desired. 7 V

have abrasion resistant edges and which are preferably relatively flexible.

An article prepared in accordance with this invention is relatively .fiexible but has .sufficient body to maintain its shape. The article has a continuous waterproof surface sealing in the reinforcingfabric body and preventing deterioration or fraying of the fabric. The fused margin of the articlev presents an abrasion resistant-edge which maintains a pleasing, appearance throughout along service life. The margin of the article is integral with the surface covering layer and presents no weak point subject to failure. The article is easily constructed by a "few simple operational steps involving no special or complex equipment and the method of making theartic'le insures consistently uniform results.

'f'ew preferred. embodiments of the invention have been described in aet'an together with the preferred methods of making same, but it Will be understood that' further variations and mod-ifications'may beeffected within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

.I claim:

1. Briefcase comprising a generally rectangular sheet of textile fabric, covering layers of flexible thermoplastic material overlying the surfaces of said sheet and bonded-thereto, the outer .margins ofsa'icl covering layers extendingjbwyond the periphery of said sheet alongfthe extent thereof and having. disposed therebetweenfand bonded thereto am'a'r'gin of a slide fastener tape having fastener elements disposed along"its op- .posi'te margin, .said fabric sheet andfcovering layers therefor being adapted to be folded across .one dimension thereof to bring the fastener elements of said slide fastener into fastening rela tion along the extent ofsa'i'd. fastener;

2.7 The method of constructing a briefcase which comprises providingia generally rectangular textile fabric bodyjportion, providing cover layers for said body portion comprising thermoplastic material, disposing said cover lay'ersover the opposed faces of said body'por'tion and "adhering said layers thereto the outer marcomprising a base member of textile fabric and a covering}- layer of flexible thermoplastic material overlying each face of said base member and bonded thereto, an outer marginal portion of said coveringzlayers extending beyond the periphery of said base member along an edge thereof, a slide fastener comprising a plurality of locking elements mounted along a margin of a flexible tape, the .jfree margin of said tape abutting the edge of said base member between the marginal portions ofsaid covering layers and being bonded to each ofsaid covering layers along its extent.

1 i WALTER R. HICKLER.

" REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Solomon Sept. 6, 1927 Rockwood May 14, 1935 Plotkin Sept. 8, 1936 Calvert Aug. 1, 1939 Sundback Feb. 13, 1940 Monro et al. May 21, 1940 Geo et a1. Mar. 25, 1941 Andler Feb. 6, 1945 Kaphan Apr. 2, 1946 Morin Mar. 30, 1948 Howard May 25, 1948 Beckwith et a1 Nov. 30, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Sept. 18, 1930 Great Britain Oct. 16, 1941 

